ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The foundation of this project to publicize the rich history of Mexican American baseball and softball in the Pomona Valley is due to the remarkable work of the Latino Baseball History Project at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). Others who supported this effort include the following individuals and staff at the CSUSB’s John M. Pfau Library: Dean Cesar Caballero and Sue Caballero, Jill Vassilakos-Long (head of archives and special collections), Iwona Contreras, Ericka Saucedo, Amina Romero, Carrie Lowe, Manny Veron, Brandy Montoya, Hayley Parke, John Baumann, and Stacy Magtedanz.

The authors are indebted to the players and their families who provided treasures of photographs and extraordinary oral histories. These dedicated individuals and groups include the following: José Alamillo, Estella Elías Acosta, Patricia Encinas García, Dorothy Romero, Jack Brown, Ralph and Ben Santolucito, Jim Bryant, Manuel Villegas, Rod Trasher, Tom Bonillas, Esteban Montéz, Carnera (Chayo) Rodríguez, Arcadio Acuna, Ray Amparan, Delfino López Anguiano, Fortino Mendoza, John Viveros, Chilo Martines, Pete Torres, José (Chevo) Hernández, Alfonso Gallardo, Richard Zaccato, Enrique and Hilaria Vásquez, Manuel Amparan, Maury and Tommie Encinas, Jim McLemore, Mel McGavock, Ralph Acuna, Ralph Bencomo, Tony Colunga, Frank Enciso, Sal Gallardo, Andy García, Ray Guerrero, Ángel Hernández, Eddie Jiménez, Andrew Ledesma, Rudy Leos, Tito Mendoza, Tony Muñoz, Perfecto Parilla, Albert Ramírez, Teofilo Rivera, Jim (Chayo) Rodríguez, Chino Sepúlveda, Albert Tello, Joe and Martín Valadez, Agustín Vásquez, Fernando Vásquez, Sonny Vásquez, Juan Vásquez, Ray Villa, Lebro Zandrino, Richard García, Stella Guevara, Gilbert Guevara, Tony Cervantes, Paul Gómez, Al Padilla, Charlie Sierra, Richard and Gabriel Peña, Rudy Félix, Ignacio Félix, Joe Romero, José Hermosillo, Chuck and Chico Briones, Gilberto Pérez, Enrique M. López, Phyllis Pérez, Theresa McDowell, Marcelino Saucedo, Lolo Hernández, Teresa Santillán, Rudy Gómez, Al De La Rosa, Al Padilla, Bob Lagunas, Ramona Cervantes, Richard Arroyo, Vicki Norton, Darcy Quinlan Meyer, Linda Castro Spencer, Eddie Navarro, Rey León, Grace Guajardo Charles, John Y. Dickinson III, Sonny Benavidez, Isabel Ramírez, Lano Oropeza, Michael Cervantes, Cecilia Estrada, Elvera Díaz Jiménez, David Trujillo, Mónica Ortez, Ray Torres, Joe Talaugon, Richard Sánchez, Joe Escareño Jr., Jim Campos, Martín and Ángel Cortinas, Charlotte Montijo Sauter, Ron Baca, Oscar Chacon, Sergio Hernández, Kelvin Paz, Bea Armenta Dever, Rosemarie Olmos Esquivel, Jaime Castel De Oro, Remi Álvarez, Gabby Mendoza, Ray Rodríguez, Olivia Cortéz, Victor and Mary Ruiz, Anita Valadez-García, Lalo Olagués, Priscilla Poppinga, Ray Sevilla, Eddie García Jr., Bobby Duran, Buddy Muñoz, Vince Martínez, Abe Contreras, Henry and Cecilia Toledo, Cuno and Karla Barragán, Mary Camacho, Ralph Castañeda Jr., Ernie Cervantes, Ray and Hillie Delgadillo, Sally Hernández, John Hernández, Bob Lagunas, Cindy Swartwood, Rod Martínez, Richard Méndez, Ramona Reyes, Ray Salazar, Lucy and Hank Pedregón, Carlos Uribe, Richard Cortéz, Joffee García Jr., Bill Miranda, Buddy Dueñas, Irene Negrete, the Studio for Southern California History, Southeast Chicago Project, Señoras of Yesteryear, Ethnic and Women’s Studies Department, the Cesar Chávez Center at Cal Poly Pomona, and all of the loyal fans and business merchants of Cucamonga.

A special thanks to Alfonso Villanueva Jr., whose tireless work help make chapters one and two possible. We recognize again the professional work of our in-house editor, Elisa Grajeda-Urmston, and offer special appreciation to our technical consultant Mark Ocegueda. Last but not least, our heartfelt appreciation to Arcadia Publishing and our remarkable and patient editor, Jared Nelson.